10 Most Anticipated Movies of Summer 2025!
The summer movie season kicked off in May, with blockbusters like Thunderbolts*, Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, and Lilo & Stitch already released last month. So, what other films are hitting theaters from June to August? Here, I present ten highly anticipated movies.
The Life of Chuck, Canadian Release Date: June 13th
Written and directed by Mike Flanagan (The Haunting of Hill House series), this film adapts a novella of the same name by horror master Stephen King. It stars Marvel's Loki actor Tom Hiddleston, BAFTA winner Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years a Slave), Marvel's Nebula actress Karen Gillan (Guardians of the Galaxy series), Jacob Tremblay (Wonder), and Mark Hamill (the Star Wars franchise). The film premiered last year at the Toronto International Film Festival, winning the People's Choice Award. Since 2012, films winning this award have consistently been nominated for Oscars for Best Picture. Will this film follow suit? Although Flanagan and King's past works primarily lean into horror, this film's tone seems more dramatic, reminiscent of other Stephen King adaptations like The Shawshank Redemption and The Green Mile.
The world feels like it’s ending and everybody’s saying goodbye to Chuck. Wherever Marty (Chiwetel Ejiofor) goes, he can’t get away from Charles Krantz (Tom Hiddleston). His face is showing up on billboards, window signs — even TV commercials. What’s so special about this seemingly ordinary accountant and why does he warrant such a sendoff?
Their connection includes Marty’s ex-wife (Karen Gillan), her co-worker, his neighbour, and just about everyone else they know. Chuck’s life story soon begins to unravel in front of us, going back to a childhood with grandfather Albie (Mark Hamill), who teaches him about accounting and passes on a love for dancing, all the while keeping him from a prophetic secret in the attic.
Materialists, Canadian Release Date: June 13th
This film is written and directed by Celine Song, the Independent Spirit Award-winning director of Past Lives. It stars Dakota Johnson (the Fifty Shades trilogy), Marvel's Captain America actor Chris Evans, and Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us). The trailer for this film looks like the romantic comedies prevalent in the early 2000s. What new elements will the director add to keep it from feeling stale?
A young, ambitious New York City matchmaker finds herself torn between the perfect match and her imperfect ex.
28 Years Later, Canadian Release Date: June 20th
This is the latest installment in the 28 Days Later franchise. The original film's director, Danny Boyle, and screenwriter, Alex Garland, return to direct and write the screenplay, respectively. It stars Emmy winner Jodie Comer (Killing Eve), Marvel's Quicksilver actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Harry Potter film series' Voldemort actor Ralph Fiennes. The film's cinematographer is Oscar winner Anthony Dod Mantle (Slumdog Millionaire), and the composer is Oscar winner Hildur Guðnadóttir (Joker). Although this film looks like a typical zombie horror movie, Danny Boyle previously incorporated some lighter moments into 28 Days Later, which ultimately felt hopeful. Will he take a similar approach this time? Additionally, this film was primarily shot on an iPhone 15 Pro, making it exciting to see how the director uses ordinary equipment to deliver extraordinary visuals. The sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is set to be released in January next year, directed by Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels).
F1, Canadian Release Date: June 27th
The film is directed by Joseph Kosinski (Top Gun: Maverick) and written by him and Ehren Kruger, who also penned Top Gun: Maverick. After its theatrical release, the film will be available on Apple TV+ later this year. The star-studded cast includes Academy Award winner Brad Pitt (Once Upon A Time… in Hollywood), Damson Idris, BAFTA winner Kerry Condon (The Banshees of Inisherin), Emmy winner Tobias Menzies (The Crown), BAFTA winner Kim Bodnia (Killing Eve), and Academy Award winner Javier Bardem (No Country for Old Men). The behind-the-scenes team is equally impressive, featuring Academy Award-winning cinematographer Claudio Miranda (Life of Pi), Academy Award-winning editor of Traffic, and Academy Award-winning composer of The Lion King and Dune, Hans Zimmer.
Dubbed “the greatest that never was,” Sonny Hayes (Brad Pitt) was FORMULA 1’s most promising phenom of the 1990s until an accident on the track nearly ended his career. Thirty years later, he’s a nomadic racer-for-hire when he’s approached by his former teammate Ruben Cervantes (Javier Bardem), owner of a struggling FORMULA 1 team that is on the verge of collapse. Ruben convinces Sonny to come back to FORMULA 1 for one last shot at saving the team and being the best in the world. He’ll drive alongside Joshua Pearce (Damson Idris), the team’s hotshot rookie intent on setting his own pace. But as the engines roar, Sonny’s past catches up with him and he finds that in FORMULA 1, your teammate is your fiercest competition — and the road to redemption is not something you can travel alone. Production for the film began in the summer of 2023 and was shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras. Some scenes were even filmed during the British Grand Prix, with other filming locations including the Grand Prix circuits in Hungary, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, Japan, Mexico, the United States, and Abu Dhabi. The production team also collaborated with Mercedes' racing team to build the vehicles seen in the film. So it is expected that the racing sequences will look as realistic as the fighter jet scenes in Top Gun: Maverick.
Sorry, Baby, Canadian Release Date: July 4th
Written, directed, and starring Eva Victor, this film also features BAFTA winner Naomi Ackie (The End of the F*ing World), Lucas Hedges (Manchester by the Sea), John Carroll Lynch (The Trial of the Chicago 7), Louis Cancelmi (A Murder at the End of the World), and Kelly McCormack. The film premiered at this year's Sundance Film Festival, where it was one of the best-reviewed films and won the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award.
Something bad happened to Agnes. But life goes on… for everyone around her, at least. When a beloved friend visits on the brink of a major milestone, Agnes starts to realize just how stuck she’s been, and begins to work through how to move forward.
Superman, Canadian Release Date: July 11th
The film is written and directed by James Gunn, the co-chairman and co-CEO of the DC Universe and the director and writer of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy, and was shot entirely with IMAX-certified digital cameras. As the first live-action movie in the rebooted DC Universe, the film features an entirely new cast for its iconic comic book characters, including David Corenswet (The Politician) as Superman/Kal-El/Clark Kent, Rachel Brosnahan (The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel) as Lois Lane, Nicholas Hoult (the X-Men series) as the villain Lex Luthor, Edi Gathegi (For All Mankind) as Michael Holt/Mister Terrific, Anthony Carrigan (Barry) as Rex Mason/Metamorpho, Nathan Fillion (Castle) as Green Lantern Guy Gardner, and Isabela Merced (Dora and the Lost City of Gold) as Hawkgirl.
From the trailer, the tone and cinematography of this film don't seem to have the darkness of the previous DC Extended Universe (DCEU). However, its lighting and colour have a somewhat distinct look, and whether that's good or bad will have to be determined when the film is released. James Gunn's previous work for Marvel on the Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy and for DC on The Suicide Squad had a more lighthearted and comedic tone, so it's likely that this Superman film won't be too somber and will emphasize the theme of "hope."
The Fantastic Four: First Steps, Canadian Release Date: July 25th
Directed by Matt Shakman, who helmed The Spoils of War, which is considered one of the best episodes of Game of Thrones Season 7, and Marvel Studios' first series WandaVision. The four main characters are played by Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Volpi Cup for Best Actress winner Vanessa Kirby (Pieces of a Woman), Joseph Quinn (Stranger Things), and two-time Emmy winner Ebon Moss-Bachrach (The Bear). The villain Galactus is portrayed by Ralph Ineson (Chernobyl), while three-time Emmy winner Julia Garner (Ozark) will play Silver Surfer. Other cast members include Emmy winner Paul Walter Hauser (Black Bird), John Malkovich (Being John Malkovich), Natasha Lyonne (Russian Doll), and Sarah Niles (Ted Lasso). Oscar-winning composer Michael Giacchino (Up), who has frequently scored Marvel films, will also compose for this movie.
The film's art design features a refreshing retro-futuristic theme. The previous three Fantastic Four films were largely negatively reviewed. With the rights now back with Marvel Studios, will this installment finally be a decent one? Furthermore, Doctor Doom (Robert Downey Jr.), the villain for Avengers: Doomsday, is originally a Fantastic Four villain, suggesting that The Fantastic Four: First Steps will lay considerable groundwork for Avengers: Doomsday.
Set against the vibrant backdrop of a 1960s-inspired, retro-futuristic world, Marvel Studios’ 'The Fantastic Four: First Steps' introduces Marvel’s First Family—Reed Richards/Mister Fantastic, Sue Storm/Invisible Woman, Johnny Storm/Human Torch and Ben Grimm/The Thing as they face their most daunting challenge yet.
Weapons, Canadian Release Date: August 8th
Written and directed by Zach Cregger, director and writer of Barbarian. It stars Marvel's Thanos actor Josh Brolin, three-time Emmy winner Julia Garner (Ozark), Alden Ehrenreich (Solo: A Star Wars Story), Austin Abrams (Euphoria), Cary Christopher, Benedict Wong (the Doctor Strange series), and Golden Globe winner Amy Madigan (Roe vs. Wade). The director's previous work, Barbarian, was highly creative and surprising, receiving positive reviews, making this new film highly anticipated and the subject of a bidding war among multiple film studios. From the trailer, this story again appears to be very bizarre, making one look forward to what surprises the director will bring.
When all but one child from the same class mysteriously vanish on the same night at exactly the same time, a community is left questioning who or what is behind their disappearance.
Highest 2 Lowest, Canadian Release Date: August 22nd
Directed by Oscar-winning screenwriter (BlacKkKlansman) and Da 5 Bloods director Spike Lee, this film is an adaptation of Akira Kurosawa's Japanese masterpiece High and Low. It stars Oscar winner Denzel Washington (Training Day), Emmy winner Jeffrey Wright (Angels in America), Ilfenesh Hadera, and rappers ASAP Rocky and Ice Spice. The film recently premiered at the Cannes Film Festival to positive reviews. After its North American theatrical release, the film will be available on Apple TV+ on September 5th. Spike Lee's past films have often focused on racial themes, making it exciting to see how he will adapt Kurosawa's work and infuse it with his unique vision.
When a titan music mogul (Denzel Washington), widely known as having the “best ears in the business,” is targeted with a ransom plot, he is jammed up in a life-or-death moral dilemma.
Caught Stealing, Canadian Release Date: August 29th
Directed by Golden Lion winner Darren Aronofsky (The Wrestler). It stars Golden Globe winner Austin Butler (Elvis), Oscar winner Regina King (If Beale Street Could Talk), Catwoman actress Zoë Kravitz (The Batman), Matt Smith (House of the Dragon), Liev Schreiber (Ray Donovan), Vincent D'Onofrio (Daredevil), Griffin Dunne (This is Us), rapper Benito A Martínez Ocasio/Bad Bunny, D'Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai (Warfare), and Emmy winner Carol Kane (Taxi). From the trailer, this film appears to be the most mainstream film the director has ever helmed. Aronofsky's previous works like The Wrestler, Black Swan, and The Whale led to Golden Globe for Best Actor (Mickey Rourke), Oscar for Best Actress (Natalie Portman), and Oscar for Best Actor (Brendan Fraser) wins respectively. It is exciting to see the performances of the cast in this new work.
Hank Thompson (Austin Butler) was a high-school baseball phenom who can’t play anymore, but everything else is going okay. He’s got a great girl (Zoë Kravitz), tends bar at a New York dive, and his favorite team is making an underdog run at the pennant. When his punk-rock neighbor Russ (Matt Smith) asks him to take care of his cat for a few days, Hank suddenly finds himself caught in the middle of a motley crew of threatening gangsters. They all want a piece of him; the problem is he has no idea why. As Hank attempts to evade their ever-tightening grip, he’s got to use all his hustle to stay alive long enough to find out…
If you are interested in upcoming movies to be released in Canada, please visit the Movie Release Schedule page on this website!
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